Apparatus for steam-heating.



H. A. DURR.

APPARATUS FOR STEAM HEATING. APPLICATION FILED JULY 5. I916.

M29 91? Patented June 12, 1917.

HERBERT A. LDURR, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR STEAM-HEATING.

Application filed July 5, 1916.

To aZZ 'w/tom it may concern Be it known that I, llnnnnn'r A. Dunn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus "for Steam- Heating, of which the following is a speci fication.

The present invention has to do with a new and improved system 011. heating, and certain apparatus to be used in connection with the same.

The system of: steam hcatin practised, is open to the objection that it does not present flexibility oi? control. That is to nay, it is open to the objection that the temperature of the radiators and the amount of heat radiation cannot be readily controlled according to the necessities presented by the weather, etc. This is because the steam in the radiators must of necessity be at a comparatively high temperature, and generally somewhat above 212 Fahrenheit. Otherwise there will be no steam present and consequently no transmission of heating medium from the boiler to the radiators.

This deficiency in the principle of steam heating is well understood and accepted in the art and in the past certain attempts have been made to overcome the same by control of the amount of radiating surface to which the steam is applied. Such con-v trol, for example has been attempted by the use of the so-called vapor heating system, in which the air entrapped in the radiators so regulated as to prevent the admission of steam to the entire body or volume of the radiator. This principle and application are, however, open to the very serious objection that the air within the radiator is a compressible medium, so that the volume or space within the radiator which will be occupied by the steam will depend in large measure upon the pressure of the steam andthe consequent compression of the air. It is also open to the objection that it is a twopipe system. p

I have discovered the fact that by substituting in place of the air a non-compressible medium such as water or the like, the volume or space within the radiator available for the accommodation of the steam may be very nicely and accurately controlled, so that the radiating etl'ect of the radiator may be csl troll d mainta nedat s -en g, as generally Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 112, 1917. Serial No. 107,574.

desired point and without fluctuation or variation on account of change in the steam pressure. This makes it unnccessar in the practice of my invention to provide accurate, and in most cases, delicate pressure regulating mechanism, and the system of steam heating, according to my invention, will operate accurately and exactly, as desired at all times with a. given setting of the control mechanism.

On account of the fact that the water of condensation from the steam itself is, to all practical intents and purposes, non-compressible, I find that this constitutes a simple and desirable medium -for the regulation of the space or volume within a radiator available tor the accommodation of the steam, lVhen using the water of condensation in this manner a simple method consists in the entraining of water of condensation within the radiator until a desired volume or portion of the radiator is thereby filled or occupied. Thereafter, the radiation may be maintained at a constant point by maintaining only the desired amount of condensation within the radiator, permitting the additional condensation to discharge from time to time, or continuously, as desired.

In the drawing:

. Figure 1 shows one arrangement for the practice ofthe features of myinvcntion;

Fig. 2 shows a vertical elevation, partly in section, of a valve mechanism by means of which thefeatures of the present inyention may be carried into effect by the use of thewater of condensation, the regulation of radiating surface being accomplished by regulating the amount of condensation contained in the radiator; Fig. 3 shows a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, said section being on enlarged scale; and

Fig. 4t shows a section taken on the line 4 l, of Fig. 52, looking in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 4 also being on enlarged. scale.

I will first describe the particular steam layout illustrated in Fig. l for practising the features of the present invention. In the particular arrangement illustrated the boiler supplies steam through the connection 6 and valve 7 to a steam loop 8. This steam loop is pitched from the point 9 downwardly t the po t 10 in ccord e i h e t ab:

lished practice, so that condensation drains toward the end 10. The radiators are tapped off from the steam loop at desired polnts,

the condensation from each radiator returning around the loop to the point 10.

In the particular arrangement illustrated, I have shown two radiators numbered 11 and 12, respectively, connected into the loop at opposite sides thereof.

The condensation returning to the end is delivered to a balance tank 13, and the water is supplied from said balance tank to the boiler by a connection 14. The elevation of water within the balance tank serves to control. the supply of water thereto. A water supply line 15 delivers water to the balance tank, and a discharge connection 16 serves to overflow water to a sump or sewer in accordance with established practice. Control valves, such as float valves or the like 17 and 1S, serve to regulate the supply and discharge of water to and from the balance tank, so that at all times the level. therein will remain within desired limits. These float valves may be of any suitable construction and I will not further describe them in detail. It will be understood, however, that the balance tank 13 with the supply line 15, and discharge connection 16 in conjunction with the valves 17 and 18 are shown simply as a convenient means for regulating the level of water within the tank when it is desired to secure such result.

Reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 Will show in detail the construction of the valve herein illustrated for the purpose of regulating the amount of condensation entrained in the radiator. A well known and standard form of radiator coil is provided with upper and lower taps which are located adjacent to the upper and lower extremities of the coil.

The valve shown in detail in the drawings includes the upper and lower heads 19 and 20, respectively, and the intermediate tubular connecting section 21. These upper and lower heads are provided with nipples 22 and 23 for connection into the upper and lower portions of the radiator, as by means of the taps heretofore referred to.

The elevation of water within the tubular section 21 will be equal to the elevation of the condensation within the radiator. Therefore, the tubular section 21 presents a convenient mechanism whereby to regulate the elevation of the condensation. In the particular construction illustrated, a stationary web 24 is formed in the lower head 20. The said stationary web is provided with an elongated steam slot 25 and with a condensation discharge orifice 26, as shown in Fig. 4. A plate 27 is rotatably mounted on the upper surface of the web 24, and said plate may be rotated through the medium of a rod 28 which extends upwardly through a guide web 29, and packing 30 to the handle 31. By rotating the handle the plate 27 will be rotated on the upper surface of the web 24.

' The plate 27 carries an upstanding steam tube 32, the elevation of which is equal to or greater than the greatest height to which the condensation will be required to stand within the radiator. The plate 27 is also provided with a number of other tubes 33, 34, and 36, of different elevations corresponding to the different levels at which it may be desired to maintain the condensation within the radiator.

In the particular construction illustrated the tube 33 stands substantially at three quarters elevation, the tube 34 substantially at one-half elevation, the tube 35 substantially at one-quarter elevation, and the tube 36 is substantially nothing but a discharge hole or orifice.

lVith the plate 27 turned into the position shown in Fig. with respect to the web 24 it will be observed that both of the openings 25 and 26 will be entirely closed or shut off. Consequently, steam cannot enter the radiator, nor can water of condensation discharge therefrom. In other words the valve is en tirely closed. .By turning the valve a suitable amount to carry the steam pipe 32 into communication with the opening 25, the water discharge pipe 33 will be brought into communication with the port or opening 26. Now, the pipe 33 stands three-quarters high with respect to the radiator. Consequently, with the valve in this position the steam will deliver into the radiator and will condense therein, and this action will continue until. the radiator has become three-quarters filled with water of condensation. Thereafter, any further condensation will overflow the pipe 33 and discharge back to the steam line and find its way to the balance tank.

In other words, with the valve in this position, three-quarters of the volume of the radiator will be filled with water of condensation and only one-quarter of the volume of the radiator will. be available for live steam. Consequently, the effective radiating area of the radiator will be cut down to practically one-fourth of the full area of the radiator. By turning the valve to the next position, the pipe 33 will be brought into communication with the opening 25 in addition to the pipe 32, and the pipe 34 will be brought into communication with the discharge port 26. This will permit water of condensation to drain out of the radiator down to the level of the upper end of the pipe 34, so that the radiator will be thereafter only half full of water of condensation.

This will greatly increase the effective radiating capacity. In like manner, by turning the valve an additional amount, the pipe 3 1: will be transferred into communication with the opening 25 and the pipe 35 will be brought into communication with the port 26, so as to permit the radiator to remain only one-fourth filled with water of condensation. Finally, by turning the valve an additional amount, the pipe 35 will be placed into commiinication with the opening 25, and the pipe or opening 36 will be brought into communication with the port 26. "his will cause the radiator to drain substantially free of condensation, thus giving the maximum radiating capacity.

Of course, if the valve be opened, the full extent in the first instance, or to any position intermediate between the maximum and minimum openings, the water of condensation will rise within the radiator to the point where it will overflow that pipe which is in communication with the discharge port.

It will be observed that as the valve is turned more and more in the direction of a full opening, more and more of the pipes are brought directly into communication with the opening 25. Simultaneously, the elevation of the water of coi'ldensa-tion is reduced or converselythe amount of effective radiating surface is increased. This means that there will be an additional demand for steam, but said additional demand may be readily satisfied because of the additional pipe area presented for the delivery of steam into the radiator on account of the bringing of additional pipes into communication with the opening 25.

A. spring 39, having its lower end in engagement with a collar 1-0, on the rod28, serves to maintain the valve plate 27 at all times in firm contact with the valve seat 24:.

The amount of condensation, as the control valves of the different radiators on the system are opened and closed to a greater or less extent, will increase or decrease. This will cause at times a heavy demand for steam from the boiler, and a comparatively rapid return of water to the balance tank. It is intended by the use of the valves 17 and 18 in the balance tank to regulate therein the water level. In case of an extremely heavy demand for steam, the balance tank will supply water through the pipe 14 to the boiler, whereupon the float 17 will fall, thus permitting the supply of water through the line 15 to the balance tank and thence through the pipe 14 to the boiler.

In case there is a return of water of condensation from the radiators at a rate greater than the rate of evaporation of steam, the level of the water within the balance tank will rise, thus raising the float 18 and permitting a discharge of water through the pipe 16.

It is, however, very desirable to maintain the level of the Water constant Within the boiler itself, and in many cases Where there is a heavy return of water from the radiators, the said water would not discharge through the pipe 16 at a sufficient rate to prevent an abnormal rise of water level in the boiler.

I have, therefore, shown a float valve 37 interposed in the pipe 14. This float valve includes a chamber 38 within which a suffcient amount of water will be carried. to properly operate the float 37. The level of the water within the chamber 38 will be equal to the level within the boiler. Consequently, when the water within the boiler stands at the desired level, the float 37 will close the pipe 14; so as to prevent, for the time being, a further delivery of water from the balance tank to the boiler. hen the water level falls within the boiler, the float 37 will fall so as to permit the delivery of water to the boiler until the level within the boiler has been restored to the desired point.

It is evident that by the use of the mechanisms herein. disclosed there is provided a considerable storage capacity within the balance tank, so as to take up normal fluc- 1? tuations of water of condensation, and it is also evident that means have been provided for preventing a flooding of the boiler in case of an abnormal return of water of condensation.

It will be observed that by the use of the system herein disclosed, it is possible to control the effective radiating capacity of the radiator with the use of a one-pipe system. Thisis a very great advantage over the socalled vapor system to which reference has previously been made, because the so-called vapor system necessitates the use of two pipes on each radiator, and corresponding additional pipes throughout the entire system.

While I have herein shown and described only a single application of my improved system and only a single form of mechanism for carrying the said system into effect, stillit will be understood that I do not limit myself to the same, except as I may do so in the claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a radiator and a single pipe for the delivery of steam and removal of water of condensation to and from the radiator, of a valve mechanism interposed between said pipe and said radiator, said valve mechanism comprising upper and lower connections in communication with the interior of the radiator, a tubular member joining the interior portions of said connections, a horizontal partition in the lower connection, there being an arcuate slotted opening in said partition, another opening in said partition adjacent to one end of said arcuate slotted opening, a disk rotatably mounted on the upper surface of said partition, said disk having a plurality of perforations extending through its body, said perforations being located in arcuate position corresponding to the afore-mentioned arcuate slotted opening, a steam tube upstanding from the end one of said open ings, and a series of condensation tubes upstanding from selected ones of the other openings, said condensation tubes being of selective] y decreasing elevation commencing with the condensation tube next in order to the steam tube, and means for rotating the disk with respect to the partition, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a radiator and a single pipe for the delivery of steam and removal of water of condensation to and from the radiator, of a valve mechanism interposed between the pipe and the radiator, said valve mechanism comprising an elongated valve member having its upper and lower ends in comn'iunication respectively with the upper and lower portions of the radiator, a horizontal partition in the lower portion of the valve mechanism, there being an arcuate slotted opening in said partition, a disk rotatably mounted on the upper surface of the partition, there being a plurality of openings extending through said disk, said openings lying in arcuate fashion corresponding to the arcuate slotted opening, a steam pipe upstanding from the end one of said disk openings, condensation pipes upstanding from selected ones of the other disk openings, the condensation pipes being of selectively decreasing elevation commencing with the condensation pipe next adjacent to the steam pipe, and means for turning the disk into selected positions, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a radiator and a single pipe for the delivery of steam and the removal of water of condensation to and from the radiator, of a valve device interposed between the pipe and the radiator, said valve device comprising an elongated member having its upper and lower ends in vscribed.

commuuication with the upper and lower portions of the radiator, a horizontal partition in the lower portion of the valve device, there being an elongated opening extending through. said partition, a disk movably mounted on the upper surface of the partition, ther being a plurality of openings extending through said disk, a plurality of pipes upstanding from the openings of the disk, the end one of said pipes being a steam pipe, and the other pipes, being of progressively decreasing elevation, and being water pipes, and means formoving the disk over the surface of the partition to bring said pipes successively into communication with the elongated opening, substantially as de 1%. The combination with a radiator and a single pipe for the delivery of steam and the removal of water of condensation to and from the radiator, of a valve device between the pipe and the radiator, said valve device including an elongated vertical tubular member having its upper and lower ends in communication with the upper and lower portions of the radiator, a partition in the lower portion of said valve device, there being an arcuate slotted opening in said partition, a disk rotatably mounted on the upper surface of the partition, there being a plurality of openings extending through said disk and located in arcuate fashion corresponding to the arena'te slotted opening of the partition, a plurality of pipes connected to the disk and upstanding from the afore said openings, the end pipe being a steam pipe of maximum height, and the other pipes being water pipes of progressively decreasing height, and means for rotating the disk over the face of the partition, substantially as described.

FRANCES M. Fnosr, THOMAS A. BANNING, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0.! 

